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— Sixty-Seven , 



BY 33LV. J. I. BOSWELL,. 


NEW YORK: 

PHILLIPS & HUNT. 

CINCINNATI: 

V/ALDEN & STOWE. 


































































The “Home College Series” will contain one hundred short papers on 
a wide range of subjects—biographical, historical, scientific, literary, domes¬ 
tic, political, and religious. Indeed, the religious tone will characterize all 
of them. They are written for every body—for all whose leisure is limited, 
but who desire to use the minutes for the enrichment of life. 

These papers contain seeds from the best gardens in all the world of 
human knowledge, and if dropped wisely into good soil, wid bring forth 
harvests of beauty and value. 

They are for the young—especially for young people (and older people,' 
too) who are out of tile schools, who are full of business” and “cmes,”- 
who are in danger of reading m thing, or of reading a sensational literature 
that is worse than nothing. 

One of these papers a week read over and over, thought and talked about 
at “odd times,” will give in one year a vast fund of information, an intel¬ 
lectual quickening, worth even more than the mere knowledge acquired, a 
taste for solid readhig, many hours of simple and wholesome pleasure, and 
ability to talk intelligently and help fin.y to one’s friends. 

Pastors may organize “Home College” classes, or “Lyceum Reading 
Unions,” or “Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circles,” and help the 
young people to read and think and talk and live to worthier purpose. 

A youug man may have his own little “college” all by himself, read.this 
series of tracts one after the other, (there will soon be one hundred of them 
ready,) examine himself on them by the “ Thought-Outline to Help the Mem¬ 
ory.” and thus gain knowledge, and, what is better, a Jove of knowledge. 

And what a young man may do in this respect, a young woman, and both 
old men aud old women, may do. 

J. H. Vincent. 

New York, Jan., 1S88. * 


/' l 

/ s v 

x 


Copyright, 1883, by Phillips & Hunt, $e\v York. 



pome Collect Series. Humber Sirtn-sebeu. 


GERMANY. 


Hamburg, on the river Elbe, is the chief seat of the com¬ 
merce of Germany, and its spacious docks are filled with 
ships from all parts of the world. The history of the city is 
an interesting one. There is not much, however, to detain 
the tourist, so he hastens to take the train for Berlin. 

Berlin. —Berlin is one of the great cities of Europe and 
the metropolis of the German Empire. It lies on both sides 
of the river Spree, which is spanned by many bridges. It 
has 520 streets, and numbers a population of about 1,000,000. 
It is rich in public buildings and places of interest. Among 
these are the old and new museums, the former of which is 
the most imposing building in the city. These museums are 
rich in paintings, statuary, and antiquities. Many monuments 
are erected to distinguished persons, and near the city is a 
monument, erected by the present emperor, in memory of 
the brilliant victories which mark his reign. There are sev¬ 
eral public parks, and the wide street known as TJnter den 
Linden is a favorite place of resort. 

The growth of the city has been recent and rapid. When 
Frederick the Great came to the throne the city had but 
90,000 inhabitants. It suffered much during the reign of 
Frederick, and also during the wars with Napoleon. No 
other city can show so many noble buildings so near together, 
and nearly all of these were erected during the present 
century. 

As the German Empire has grown, so has grown Berlin. 
Parliament holds its session here, and it is the center of the 
government business. Numbers of people are crowded into 
large houses, and the rate of mortality is high. About 70 





2 


GERMANY. 


per cent, of the population are engaged in manufactures and 
trade. The University was founded as late as 1810, but the 
able scholars who were enrolled among its instructors soon 
drew a large number of students. The schools for the study 
of painting and of music take high rank, and there are nine : 
public libraries, at the head of which is the Royal Library 
with its 800,000 volumes and 15,000 manuscripts. 

The Land. —Germany occupies the greater portion of Cen¬ 
tral Europe. The coast-line is scarcely one third of the 
whole frontier, and the natural harbors are few. The 
northern portion of the land is a plain, the swampy parts 
of which have been improved by drainage and cultiva¬ 
tion. The southern portion contains ranges of hills, and the 
land is fertile and the scenery beautiful. Several rivers flow 
through the land, and the most important of these is the 
Rhine. Though this river takes its rise among the Swiss 
Alps, yet for 470 miles it flows through German territory, 
and boats can sail all this distance. The beauties of the 
Rhine are well known. From Bingen to Bonn it winds 
among vine-clad hills, on whose summits stand the ruined 
castles of the robber knights of the Middle Ages. Natural 
beauty, legend, history, and song have, together, made this 
river the most attractive in Europe. 

Forests abound, and much attention is paid to their culture 
and preservation. Crops of grain are raised, and hops are a 
chief article of exportation. The culture of the vine is con¬ 
fined mainly to the region of the Rhine, and the terraced 
hills, from base to summit, show the labor bestowed upon 
them. 

The mineral wealth is great. There are six large coal 
fields, which can supply the nation at the present rate for 
the next 2,000 years. Iron ores abound, and special attention 
is given to the manufacture of monster steel guns at the 
well-known works of Krupp in the town of Essen. 




GERMANY. 


3 


Special attention has been given during this century to the 
construction of roads. These were made by the different 
provinces, and kept in repair by them. In 1835 the first 
railway line was opened, but not until 1865 was the present 
railway system begun. 

The towns of Germany have much of interest to the 
tourist. Cologne is among the most ancient of these, and is 
noted for its Cathedral, which is, perhaps, the finest Gothic 
structure in the world. The foundation-stone was laid in 
1248, but the Cathedral remained in an unfinished state until 
within a recent date. Frankfort-on-the-Main dates back from 
the days of Charlemagne. The contrast between the old and 
new parts of the town is most impressive. The city is a 
wealthy one, and is made beautiful by the gardens which 
surround it. Frankfort is the birthplace of Goethe, and 
there is a fine monument to his memory. Heidelberg is un¬ 
equaled for the beauty of its surroundings, and its University 
is among the oldest in Germany. Every visitor hastens to 
the ruined castle, on a well-wooded spur of the mountains. 
The ruins are of vast extent and most imposing, and from 
them one beholds a view of river, valley, and mountain of 
wonderful beauty. The town of Worms was, during the 
Middle Ages, one of the most important of Germany. It 
was here that, in 1521, Luther bravely defended his doc¬ 
trines before the Emperor Charles V. and a great assembly 
of the realm. A monument to the great Reformer now 
stands in the center of the town. The monument was nine 
years in building, and is adorned with bronze figures of Luther 
and other reformers. 

Dresden, the capital of Saxony, is often called “ the Flor¬ 
ence of Germany,” and its chief attraction is its splendid pict¬ 
ure gallery, the gem of which is the “ Sistine Madonna,” by 
Raphael, which is, perhaps, the finest picture in the world. 
Leipsic, which is 65 miles from Dresden, is noted for its Uni¬ 
versity, which was founded in 1496, for its schools of music, 




4 


GERMANY. 


and as the great center of the book trade, the sales of which 
outvalue those of London or Paris. Munich is famous for its 
treasures of art and its schools of art. 

History .—The history of Germany runs through many 
centuries, and may be divided into three periods—the Ancient 
Period, that of the Middle Ages, and the Modern. 

Ancient Period, (400 B. C.-450 A. T >.)—The Germans are 
a branch of the Teutonic race, which belongs to the great 
Aryan family. We first hear of them in the fourth century 
B. C., at which time they were widely spread. To the Roman 
writer, Tacitus, are we indebted for a knowledge of the con¬ 
dition of the people in his day. There were many tribes, but 
they all held to a common origin. The people were tall and 
vigorous, with fair hair and blue eyes. They dwelt in huts, 
were fond of war and of hunting, and given in leisure mo¬ 
ments to drinking and gambling. Most of them were free¬ 
men, and such as were slaves were mainly captives in war. 
The family tie was strong, and the character and social 
position of women ranked high. The government was of a 
local character, and each village had its chief. The army 
was composed of the whole body of freemen, who marched 
with shield, spear, and battle-ax, and rushed with wild shouts 
against the enemy. 

Such were the people with whom the Romans came in 
contact. Csesar inflicted severe losses upon them, and Au¬ 
gustus tried to make conquest of them. His effort was in 
vain, for the soldiers under Varus were defeated. Portions 
of the land were, however, settled by Roman colonies, which 
built towns and fortresses. 

Contact with Roman power led the tribes to unite in groups 
for defense. The most important of these was the Goths, which 
formed, in the fourth century, a kingdom which stretched 
from the Baltic to tlie Black Sea. Attacked by the Huns of 



GERMANY. 


5 


Asia, they poured southward, and, under Alaric, invaded 
Italy and captured Rome. The Franks, another German 
group, now rose to prominence, and it was their destiny to 
found both the German and French kingdoms. In the Salic 
code of the fifth century we see the king with his followers, 
and also his counts who were set over the districts to carry 
out his laws. 

Period of the Middle Ages. —Clovis, in 480 A. D., put an 
end to the power of Rome in Gaul. By his warlike valor, 
and by his baptism into the Christian faith, he was able to 
extend his kingdom. 

The Saxons, who still remained heathens, opposed the rule 
of the Frankish kings in Germany ; but the valor of the 
Franks won the day. Among their able soldiers was Charles 
Martel, who, in the great battle of Poitiers, saved Europe 
from the religion and civilization of the false prophet Mo¬ 
hammed. 

A great event now took place. In 707 A. D. St. Boniface, 
an Englishman, began his work as a Christian missionary. 
The civil power sustained him, and the German tribes em¬ 
braced the pure faith, and by it were lifted into a higher 
civilization. 

The Saxons alone clung to their heathenism. In 771 
Charlemagne rose to power, crushed the Saxons, and welded 
the German races into one great monarchy. He was not 
only a warrior, but a statesman and a scholar, and it was 
his aim to build a kingdom like that of the Caesars. It was 
fitting, therefore, that he should be crowned by the pope at 
Rome on Christmas Eve, 800 A. D. 

But Charlemagne had a despotic temper, and his work was 
not permanent. Wars followed, and were ended by the 
treaty of Verdun, (843.) 

Otto I. and his successors sought to restore the empire of 
Charlemagne, and to include Italy. The “ Holy Roman Em- 





6 


GERMANY. 


pire” was a visionary scheme, and hindered the unity of 
Germany, as it called the emperors to go south of the Alps. 

The conflict between Germany and the papacy now began. 
Hildebrand became pope under the title of Gregory VII., 
and claimed to be the one great master of the Christian 
world—supreme in secular as in spiritual affairs. His arrogant 
claim was resisted by Henry IV., and the pope excommuni¬ 
cated him, and declared his subjects to be free from their al¬ 
legiance. Henry IV. could do nothing but submit, for the 
papal power had reached its height in Europe. A strange 
sight was now beheld. The German king stood for three 
days, in the depth of winter, clad in a penitent’s garb, at the 
castle of Canossa, and entreated to be admitted into the 
presence of the haughty pope. That humiliation Germany 
has never forgotten. The war that followed, known as the 
War of Investitures, ran through two centuries, and ended 
in the exhaustion of both powers. 

Frederick Barbarossa (1152-90) was among the greatest of 
the rulers of Germany. He crushed his enemies, made life 
and property safe by enforcing the laws, and was popular 
alike with the nobles and the people. Frederick II. (1212- 
50) was alike a lover of literature and a wise statesman. His 
reign began an interesting period in history. It was the age 
of chivalry, of poetry, of tournaments, of crusades; an age in 
which noble Gothic churches were built, and cities grew in 
wealth and in the luxuries of life. But popular freedom did 
not advance, and king and nobles ruled and oppressed. 

During the reign of Charles IV. the plague, known as the 
“ Black Death,” swept over the land, and the people rose in 
fury against the Jews, who were thought in some way to be 
connected with it. Under the reign of this king the “ Golden 
Bull” was framed. It was a law which settled the princi¬ 
ples of an election to the crown. Maximilian I. was the 
“ last of the knights.” He was bold and chivalric, but he was 
in sympathy with the past and opposed the reforms which 



GERMANY. 


7 


were slowly coming upon the land. The times were chang¬ 
ing, but he could not, or would not, change with them. 

The Modern Period , (1517-to the present time.)—The 
close of the fifteenth century was marked by great events. 
America was discovered, printing invented, the ancient 
writers of Greece and Rome were studied, and the human 
mind was stirred as never before nor since. The hour was 
come when the power of the Church of Rome to rule the 
States of Europe was to be seriously contested. 

The Church was not ready to meet the coming storm. 
Pope Leo X. was a refined pagan in his life, and the morals 
of many of the priests were a public scandal. It was the 
dawn of a better day for Europe when Martin Luther, in the 
year 151V, nailed to the church door, at Wittenberg, the 
propositions in which he assailed the infamous sale of indul¬ 
gences. 

Luther was certainly a great man—a German of the Ger¬ 
mans. He was a close student of the Bible; he was con¬ 
scientious, firm in his purposes, fearless, yet not rash. He 
was an eloquent preacher, and a leader among men. By his 
translation of the Bible into the language of the people, and 
by his hymns, he has done much for literature. Though 
rough in controversy, and wielding a heavy battle-ax, he had 
a great, warm, sympathetic heart, which responded to the 
strains of music and the voices of children. 

Charles V. was now emperor. He did not understand the 
Reformation, but was forced from motives of State policy 
to allow it to move onward. The war of the nobles and 
then that of the oppressed peasants broke out like a 
flame, but both were subdued. The doctrines of the Reforma¬ 
tion continued to spread until the Roman Catholic reaction 
set in. This was brought about by the devotion, zeal, and 
scholarship of the rising Order of Jesuits. The “Protestant 
Union” and the “Catholic League” came in conflict, and 





8 


GERMANY. 


Ferdinand II. determined to secure the triumph of the Church 
of Rome. The result was the Thirty Years’ War. Wallen¬ 
stein, who was a strange genius, led the forces allied for the 
preservation of the Roman Catholic faith. He was set aside, 
and then the Swedish prince, Gustavus Adolphus, won a 
splendid victory, which placed him at a bound at the head of 
the defenders of the Protestant Reformation. 

The peace of Westphalia (1648) closed the war. Religious 
toleration was gained, but at a great price, for lands and 
towns had been wasted, lives destroyed, trade nearly ruined, 
and hundreds of churches and schools were closed. To add 
to the national disaster Louis XIY., of France, swept with his 
army over the land, and robbed at his pleasure. 

The rivalry between those two great States, Prussia and 
Austria, now began. Just then Frederick the Great came to 
the throne, and by the “ Seven Years’ War ” gave the suprem¬ 
acy to Prussia. His victories stirred the blood of his people, 
and the dawn of German literature began. The literary 
power of France was broken, and there was a yearning for 
national union. 

The French Revolution excited the attention of Europe, 
and was hailed with various feelings. In an evil hour Ger¬ 
many joined the other powers against it, and tried to restore 
the king. Napoleon appeared, and, after many battles, Ger¬ 
many was within his grasp. The hour of her humiliation 
was the hour when patriotism began to assert itself. The 
German government won the people by its wise measures of 
reform, and in the battle of Leipsic in 1813 broke the power 
of France. 

The effect of the French Revolution made the Germans 
long for two things—national union and freedom ; but 
against this longing the princes set themselves. The forma¬ 
tion of the Zollverein, or the commercial union, was, how¬ 
ever, the first step toward the union of States. 

Popular discontent increased, and in 1848 the king had to 



GERMANY. 


9 


permit a national assembly to be called. The war in the 
Crimea and the war in Italy made the desire for national 
unity still stronger. In 1861 William I. came into power, 
and in ten years the German Empire was formed, and in the 
palace of Versailles, in France, the German king was greeted 
wdth the title of Emperor. 

The man who brought these great events to pass was Bis¬ 
marck, who became Prime-Minister in 1862. He is the first 
statesman Germany has ever had, and among the ablest that 
ever lived. Vehement, far-seeing, somewhat unscrupulous, 
and with faith in heavy artillery, he flew—like the flight of 
an eagle—straight to his purpose. In a brief war of seven 
w r eeks he humbled Austria, annexed five provinces, and made 
Prussia supreme. France was jealous of this rising power, 
and Napoleon, anxious for glory or for the stability of his 
power, declared war on a flimsy pretext. Germany was 
ready, and German troops captured Sedan with 80,000 French 
troops and the emperor; advanced to Paris, which yielded 
after a vain resistance ; and compelled the treaty of Frank¬ 
fort in 1871. By this treaty France was compelled to pay 
an enormous sum of money and yield two of her provinces* 
Amid the great joy of victory the various States agreed to 
form a confederation, of which the King of Prussia should be 
proclaimed Emperor. Thus Germany became at last a United 
State. 

Literature .—The earliest literature was in the form of bal¬ 
lads of love and war, which were sung or recited by bards 
with the aid of the harp. These ballads were handed down 
by tradition. The age of chivalry w T as prolific in this kind 
of poetry. An unknown poet collected the ancient ballads 
which make up the “ Nieblungenlied,” which is full of stirring 
legends, and is highly prized by the German people. Lyric 
poetry followed,—brief stirring poems in praise of love and of 
the wake of nature in spring-time. 




10 


GERMANY. 


The drama took early root, and consisted of plays of a re¬ 
ligious character, known as “ Miracle Plays.” These were 
acted by daylight, first in the churches, and then in the open 
market-places. One of these which survives is founded on 
the parable of the Ten Virgins. 

The revival of learning gave rise to learned authors, who, 
however, wrote in Latin, and paid no regard to the demands 
of the people. The questions of the day were social and 
practical, and the complaints of the people against despotic 
princes and worthless priests found utterance in coarse, 
humorous, and powerful poems of satire, of which the greatest 
was that immensely popular one of “Reynard the Fox.” 

The great Protestant Reformation called forth many 
writers, chief of whom was Martin Luther. His controver¬ 
sial articles are vehement, but written in a language to be 
understood. But his great work was the translation of the 
Bible, which has not only promoted piety, but has fixed the 
language and made it fit for the expression of the highest 
thought. Hymn writers followed, among whom was Paul 
Gerhardt, whose hymn, “ O sacred Head, now wounded,” is 
among the best of its class. 

The first of the race of German philosophers was Leibnitz, 
(1646-1V16.) He appeared at a time when literature was at 
a low ebb. He wrote in French and Latin, and his views 
produced a profound impression upon German thinkers. 

At the close of the seventeenth century the literary power 
of France in Germany was supreme. The study of the 
ancient classics awoke the mind of the people, but the writers 
sought to copy French authors, rather than to create works 
of genius. But the victories of Frederick the Great gave 
political independence, and through that came literary inde¬ 
pendence. English writers were now studied, and Shake¬ 
speare began to reign in Germany as in England. 

In the first quarter of the eighteenth century were born 
three men who became the founders of German classical lit- 



GERMANY. 


11 


erature—Klopstock, Wieland, and Lessing. The fame of the 
first rests on his poem of “ The Messiah,” which is now but 
little read. Wieland was an untiring writer, whose style is 
better than his thought. Lessing is now the most influential 
of the three, and his dramatic works show him to be a master 
of style. He excelled as a critic, and in “ Laocoon,” which is 
a splendid fragment, he lays down the laws which govern art 
and poetry. 

The “ storm-and-stress ” period followed, in which am¬ 
bitious young writers broke away from the tame submission 
to French laws of criticism, and struck out somewhat wildly 
into new paths. 

Goethe now appeared, (1749-1832,) and his life is a study. 
He ranks among the live or six greatest poets of the world. 
Nature was lavish of her gifts to Goethe. He had strong 
health to old age, culture, a royal imagination, and leisure to 
give his entire time and strength to literary work. He wrote 
dramas, poems, and novels, and late in life gave to the world 
his best and greatest poem, “Faust.” It is in two parts, and 
the first is the finer of the two. 

Schiller began his literary career at the age of twenty-two. 
Beautiful was the friendship between him and Goethe. They 
lived for years at Weimar, and each cheered and helped the 
other in his work. There was none of that jealousy which 
marks many literary rivals who have but slight genius. 
Schiller’s works were in the form of dramas or short poems. 
In his drama of “ William Tell” he appeals strongly to that 
love of freedom which is found, though sometimes in a slum¬ 
bering state, in the hearts of men. The descriptions of Swiss 
scenery are faithful, and the more remarkable, as Schiller had 
never been among the Alps. 

Jean Paul Richter (1763-1825) was a strange writer, who 
abounds in faults of style. His pathos is great, and is only 
excelled by his humor; and both reflect a tender, sympa¬ 
thetic spirit. The latest of the great imaginative writers is 




12 


GERMANY. 


Heinrich Heine, whose fame is steadily rising. His “ Book 
of Songs ” abounds in brief, stirring poems, full of wit and 
sadness, and expressed with an ease and gracefulness which 
is more allied to French than German genius. 

Able writers are found in every field of literature. Among 
historians are Ranke and Neander ; among scientists, Alex¬ 
ander Yon Humboldt, whose “ Cosmos” was an effort to im¬ 
part science in a popular style ; among philosophers, Kant 
and Hegel; and among critics, the brothers William and 
Frederick Yon Schlegel. 

German authors, as a class, neglect the laws of expression. 
They tax the patience of their readers, and it requires a 
strong love of truth to read some of the books on science and 
theology which able scholars have written. Hence their in¬ 
fluence is limited. Authors who wish readers must seek to 
express their thoughts, not obscurely, but in the clearest and 
most attractive forms of speech. 

Government .—The empire is a union of twenty-five sov¬ 
ereign States, with several kingdoms, duchies, principalities, 
and free towns, and the King of Prussia, under the title of 
German Emperor, has supreme control. The emperor is 
aided in his work by a Federal Council of 59 members, who 
represent the various States. The powers of legislation are 
vested in the emperor, the Council, and Reichstag , or Parlia¬ 
ment, which numbers about 400 members, elected by a pop¬ 
ular vote by ballot. 

Executive power is in the hands of the emperor. The 
Council and the Reichstag meet annually, and laws cannot be 
passed without a majority of all the votes of these two 
bodies. The Council is presided over by the chancellor of 
the empire. 

The heavy item of expense is the support of the standing 
army. There is also an array of drilled men which can be 
called out in case of need. Every German is liable to mili- 



GERMANY . 


13 


tary service, and every one who is capable must serve seven 
years, three in the active service, and the other years as a re¬ 
serve. The heavy tax required to maintain the army and 
keep up the fortresses is a serious drain on the industries 
of the people. 

Education is, to a large extent, compulsory, and is under 
government control. Much attention is paid to the primary 
schools, and of the higher schools there are various kinds. 
The gymnasia prepares students for the universities, and 
gives the first place to the study of Latin and Greek. There 
are other schools which may be called modern or scientific, 
where the modern languages and “ modern branches ” are 
pursued. The universities are unequaled in the world for 
scholarship, and are mainly under Protestant influence. The 
one at Berlin has an attendance of 4,000 students, and 
among its teachers are some of the ablest scholars of Ger¬ 
many. Schools of theology are at Bonn and Halle, at the 
latter of which taught for many years the celebrated Tho- 
luck. Some of the scientific schools have a wide reputation. 
The chief musical academy is at Leipsic, and art is studied 
at Berlin and Munich. 

Of all the countries of Europe Germany ranks first in point 
of culture. The people are fond of music, and among the 
first of musical composers are Handel, Haydn, Mozart, and 
Wagner. 

Since the close of the war, in 1871, the German govern¬ 
ment has had to contend with many problems. One of these 
is Socialism, the growth of which has been most rapid. The 
German has seen the marvelous things which the govern¬ 
ment has done, and if he is ignorant, fancies it can, if it will, 
make the poor man rich. Business depression increases the 
discontent of the classes who are thrown out of work. Em¬ 
igration has given some relief, but it is clear that the Germans 
are not a contented people. They know that Bismarck has 
made the nation great, but they also know that he has not 



14 


GERMANY. 


made the nation free. He has formed the union of States ; 
he has made the rulers strong; but he has turned a deaf ear 
to the cry of the^people for reforms which will surely come, 
for they are in accord with the growing spirit of the age. 

What the future of the nation will be cannot now be told. 
The rate of taxation is high, and the farmer and mechanic 
seek to better their condition by emigration. Nine tenths 
of those who leave Germany come to America, and official 
returns show that three millions have arrived at American 
ports. The tide of emigration is on the increase, and is a 
cause of anxiety to the rulers. 

As for the people, they ought not to be hard to rule. They 
are as a class industrious and saving, and the love of the 
family, which is as strong now as in the days when Tacitus, 
the Roman writer, noticed it, is a source of strength to the 
state. The moral condition does not keep pace with the in¬ 
tellectual. The beer garden is more attractive than the 
church, and in the church there is much cold and dead for¬ 
malism. National culture is vain without national religion, 
and a great army which strengthens the rulers may also im¬ 
peril the liberties of a people. To Germany, America is a 
debtor, and therefore desires to see the land of Luther great, 
prosperous, and free. 

Religion .—Two thirds of the people belong to the Evan¬ 
gelical Church, and nearly one third are Roman Catholics. 
As a rule the Roman Catholic Church is strong in the south¬ 
ern portions of the empire, and the Protestant Church in 
the northern. Protestants are divided by their confessions of 
faith into the Reformed and Lutheran, but to unite these a 
“ Church Union ” was formed early in the present century, and 
these distinctions are partially ignored. The Protestants are 
increasing slightly over the Roman Catholics, owing to the 
increase of population in the north. Their religious life is 
not, however, satisfactory. Multitudes are attached to the 




GERMANY. 


15 


Church merely in name, and are led away by skeptical views. 
Indifference is one of the great foes which the Christian 
teacher has to contend with. There is need of a second 
reformation similar to that which passed over England in the 
days of the Wesleys. 

The Roman Catholic Church is well organized, but has had 
to struggle with various difficulties of late. Many of its com¬ 
municants seceded after the doctrine of the infallibility of 
the pope had been proclaimed. In 1872 Bismarck believed 
that the empire was endangered by the use of political power 
by the Church of Rome. His measures were firm and deci¬ 
sive. He banished the Jesuits, suppressed convents, and, by 
a series of laws, brought the priests under the control of the 
State, and placed the administration of Church property into 
the hands of laymen. The pope protested, but in vain. 
How far such severe measures were justified is a matter of 
dispute. 

The Jews are found mainly in the large towns, and num¬ 
ber about half a million. They are mainly money dealers, 
and some of them have attained great wealth. They have 
freedom under the law, but popular prejudice is still against 
them, and sometimes breaks out in a strange way. They 
wield, however, much influence, not only by their wealth, 
but by their control of many prominent newspapers. 


NOTES. 

The number of works about Germany is legion. Consult 
the encyclopedias. There are many biographies of Luther 
and Goethe, whose influence seems to be growing from age 
to age. Standard German literature is of recent growth. 
Carlyle, in his “ Critical Essays,” did much to introduce a 
knowledge of it into England. 




16 


GERMANY. 


We subjoin brief sentiments from various German authors: 

“Art is long, life is short, judgment difficult, and oppor¬ 
tunity fleeting.” 

“ Religion is the final goal, whither all our thoughts and 
works must tend. Who knows not this knows nothing; 
knows not himself nor God, and is capable of no real hap¬ 
piness.” 

“ A good conscience is better than two witnesses. It melts 
thy sorrow, as the sun the ice. It is a fountain when you 
thirst, a staff when you sink, a shelter when the storm breaks, 
and the kiss of peace in death.” 

“Before all things watch over thyself that thou never 
losest within thy conscious self a trust in God and in good 
men.” 

“ Before thou dost undertake any business be not ashamed 
to raise thy soul fervently toward God, the fountain of all 
good.” 

“We have all wept—the happy man sometimes in sorrow, 
the unhappy man sometimes for joy.” 


GERMANY. 

(thought outline to help the memory.) 

1. Cities? Hamburg? Berlin? The Rhine? Forests? Mines? Cologne? 

Frankfort? Worms? Dresden? Leipsic? 

2. Ancient people? Wars? Christianity in Germany ? Conflict with Papacy ? 

Hildebrand and Henry IV. ? Frederick Barbarossa ? 

3. Leo X.? Luther? Thirty Years’ War? Frederick the Great? France? 

Napoleon ? Bismark ? Sedan ? The German Emperor ? 

4. Literature and poetry? Luther’s translation of the Bible? Klopstock, 

Wieland, Lessing! Goethe? Schiller? Jean Paul Richter? 

5. Form of government? Standing army? Universities? Difficult problems? 

Religion? Bismark and the Jesuits? Jews of Germany ? 




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